Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that produces increased pressure within the eye and can eventually lead to blindness. According to ophthalmologists, the serious eye disease can affect babies, despite the popular belief that it's only diagnosed in older adults.
Over three million Americans suffer from glaucoma, including 1 in every 8,000 children and 1 in every 10,000 infants. Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) accounts for between 50% and 70% of these cases in the nation's youth. PCG symptoms include excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and a large, cloudy cornea causing the iris to appear dull.
Infants are typically diagnosed with PCG in their first year. It's the most common hereditary form of childhood glaucoma, but it can be treated with eye drops, pills, or suspension of medication for administration by mouth. These treatments aim to lessen the pressure being exerted on the optic nerve by increasing the exit of fluid from the eye or decreasing the internal ocular production of such fluid. Excessive buildup of fluids in the eye results in intraocular pressure, which is the primary symptom of glaucoma.
"Approximately 80-90 percent of babies who receive prompt surgical treatment, long-term care, and monitoring of their visual development will do well, and may have normal or nearly normal vision for their lifetime," according to The Glaucoma Foundation. "Sadly, primary congenital glaucoma results in blindness in 2 to 15 percent of childhood patients. When childhood glaucoma is not recognized and treated promptly more permanent visual loss will result."
Glaucoma is typically diagnosed in adults over the age of 60, but cases occur in patients of all ages. For example, Olivia Goree told HealthDay.com that she noticed something bizarre about her son's eyes: they were a hazy, bluish-gray color. After her pediatrician told her not to worry, Goree then took her son to ophthalmologist Dr. Cathleen Cronin, who diagnosed the infant with glaucoma. He received a surgery that implanted silicone tubing in his eyes to drain the excess fluid. He's been doing well ever since.
Although the disease is rare in infants and children, it's important to catch glaucoma as early as possible in order to administer the proper treatments to avoid further damage to the eye's optic nerve - the nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain, and most responsible for eyesight.
You can read more about glaucoma symptoms, treatments, and statistics on the National Eye Institute website.
